On January 22, 1944, six months after the Allied invasion of Sicily, American and British troops swarmed ashore at Anzio, roughly 30 miles south of Rome. The brainchild of Winston Churchill and dubbed Operation Shingle, the attack caught German troops stationed along the Italian coast largely by surprise; but after the initial onslaught, the Germans dug in. The next four months saw some of the fiercest, most prolonged fighting in World War II’s European Theater. Read more and see all the pictures at Life.com.

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Riddled with bullet holes

American soldiers inside hospital tent riddled with holes caused by German shrapnel from long range gun attacks that killed 5 and wounded 8 patients in the tent.

(George Silk / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

riddled-with-bullet-holes

In the catacombs

American commanders planning stategy in an underground American HQ, housed in a centuries old network of catacombs, during the battle for control of the Anzio area.

(George Silk / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

in-the-catacombs

Moment of silence

Medic, Pvt. E. Armitage from Massachusetts, laps up sunshine after winter months at the mouth of his foxhole, Anzio, 1944.

(George Silk / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

moment-of-silence

Field hospital tents

Aerial view of American field hospital tents erected during ongoing fight for control of the Anzio beachhead area.

(George Silk / Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

field-hospital-tents

Checking the wounded

American and British soldiers checking on comrade laying in street who was just wounded by shell fragments during the ongoing battle to take the Anzio area from German occupying forces.

The allies at Anzio: Rare photos from WWII

On January 22, 1944, six months after the Allied invasion of Sicily, American and British troops swarmed ashore at Anzio, roughly 30 miles south of Rome. The brainchild of Winston Churchill and dubbed Operation Shingle, the attack caught German troops stationed along the Italian coast largely by surprise; but after the initial onslaught, the Germans dug in. The next four months saw some of the fiercest, most prolonged fighting in World War II’s European Theater. Read more and see all the pictures at Life.com.